Man pleads guilty in ‘Thunder’ attack

Joey Kadmiri, accused of trying to steal props, costumes and underwear from the brawny men of "Thunder From Down Under," accepted a deal with prosecutors Thursday that could land him in prison for up to 25 years.

The 26-year-old pleaded guilty to charges of theft, battery and discharging a firearm in connection with the March 2014 attack on the all-male revue.

He also is expected to plead guilty to battery with use of a deadly weapon constituting domestic violence in a separate case. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss another domestic violence charge.

Prosecutors said Kadmiri sneaked backstage at the Excalibur show March 18 and rifled through the performers' dressing room. After the dancers confronted him, Kadmiri became violent, pulled out a .44 Magnum Smith & Wesson and fired a shot during a scuffle, prosecutors said. The bullet didn't hit anyone.

Prosecutors are expected to ask for a minimum of 10 years in prison at sentencing next month, but Kadmiri could be eligible for parole after two years.

"We're very pleased that he's finally accepted responsibility for his actions," said prosecutor Jeff Rogan.

Kadmiri initially was charged with several counts, including burglary, robbery with the use of a deadly weapon, battery with the use of a deadly weapon, battery with the use of a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm, possession of a controlled substance and firearm charges.

Before the attack, a stagehand first spotted Kadmiri in a fedora and a Syndey Fire Department T-shirt, pulling up his pants inside the "Thunder" dressing room, according to prosecutors.

Kadmiri told the worker that he was a new performer, but when word spread to the cast, they became suspicious because none of the dancers is American.

That's when they confronted him about the props, and he became defensive.

With the gun and a box of bullets, Kadmiri had a bag with 2.1 grams of methamphetamine on him when he was arrested, prosecutors said.

Kadmiri's lawyer, John Momot, declined to discuss the negotiations further.

After his arrest, Kadmiri tried to rush the case through the court system, but in July 2014 a judge declared a mistrial after a juror reported seeing a television news report about the case and said some jurors had discussed "gray areas."

In February, Kadmiri filed a civil lawsuit against Excalibur and the talent booking agency SPI Entertainment Inc., claiming he was the actual victim. Kadmiri sought $300 million in monetary damages for "emotional, physical and mental damage," $300 million in compensatory damages for defamation of character and "inability to get employment," and $900 million in punitive damages. A judge dismissed the complaint last month.

For more than a year after the mistrial, Kadmiri underwent several psychological examinations as judges tried to determine if he was competent. Just before the plea, Momot withdrew a request for yet another competency hearing.

On Thursday, as District Judge Eric Johnson tried to gauge Kadmiri's mental capacity, he said he was on medication for paranoia, depression and bipolar disorder, but added that he was able to understand the plea.

Contact David Ferrara at dferrara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. Find him on Twitter: @randompoker.